‘Most crimes in our city – serious crimes – are committed by male, minorities 15 -25,’ said Bloomberg. ‘When it comes to policing, the police have to be able to go out and stop, look for, those that fit the description of a witness or a victim after a crime.’

He declared that if New York City’s police officers were unable to accomplish that, they would effectively be turning ‘over the streets to the criminals.’

In recent weeks a growing chorus of critics has challenged Bloomberg's approach to fighting crime, pushing back against policies that he credits for making New York the safest major city in America.